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WILDERNESS CONNECTIONS

WILDERNESS CONNECTIONS. Benefits of Nature John Beard I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in tune once more. - John Burroughs. Purpose of Education. Educate the whole child academic social emotional citizenship

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WILDERNESS CONNECTIONS

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  1. WILDERNESS CONNECTIONS Benefits of Nature John Beard I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in tune once more. - John Burroughs

  2. Purpose of Education Educate the whole child • academic • social • emotional • citizenship • earth stewards

  3. Rationale • Students should gain an understanding and appreciation for the earth in which we live. • Knowing how we as humans fit into the natural world will not happen intuitively. • We cannot expect students to care about protecting and conserving the environment when they are not exposed to it. “[What is the] extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?” Naturalist Robert Michael Pyle

  4. Background – The De-naturing of Children • Children spend most free time indoors • Connection to nature suffers or is non-existent • Lack of outdoor “free” play • Clear link between childhood obesity and lack of outdoor play

  5. WHAT IS….. • Environmental awareness – having a general understanding of the natural world in which we live and be conscious of the need to conserve its resources & be good stewards of the land.

  6. Description & Mission • Wilderness Connections is an adventure-based program that features wilderness backpacking with lessons in regional history, geography, science, & environmental stewardship. • Mission: connect students with nature through wilderness immersion experiences.

  7. Exactly what do we do? • Take groups of ~15 students (boys & girls) to the Big South Fork for 3 days • Students backpack on trails and cross country • Groups of 4 – 5 build a shelter out of plastic • Cook a group meal over a fire • participate in fire guard • pack up each day & travel to other sites and a new campsite

  8. Exactly what do we do? • Visit original homesteads • learn about early explorers, settlers, and Civil War history of the area • Practice reading a topographic map & using a compass to “read” the land and navigate • Learn natural history & geology by looking at & interacting with the environment

  9. Exactly what do we do? • Discuss reasons for conserving our land & resources. Why is living green important? • Students keep a daily journal of their experience • Natural Novelty • Night hikes / learning about sounds & vision (“deer ears”) • Stories that teach a life application lesson

  10. Challenges & Benefits • Work as a team to overcome obstacles (e.g. carrying the pack, building a shelter, gathering firewood, dealing with weather & 1st–aid issues) • Problem solve • Leadership opportunities (group leaders) • Pushing yourself physically, mentally, & emotionally • Communicating effectively • Self reliance & self confidence

  11. More Benefits • Stress relief • Restores attentional capacity of the brain (e.g. ability to focus) • Therapy for ADHD, childhood depression & obesity • May foster creativeness • Better grades & test scores • Emotionally/spiritually uplifting

  12. Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird, And when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream, Reminding us of a previous state of existence… The voice of nature is always encouraging. -- Henry David Thoreau

  13. Explore Green Spaces

  14. Awake to Nature!

  15. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF Jefferson

  16. References • Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books, 2005. • Palmberg, Irmeli E., & kuru, Jari(2000). Outdoor Activities as a Basis for Environmental Responsibility. Journal of Environmental Education. 31, 32-39. • Parrish, Deborah and Gabriele Phillips. Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in California. American Institute for Research, 2005. • Taylor, Andrea F, Kuo, Frances E, & Sullivan, William C (2001). Views of Nature and Self-Discipline: Evidence from Inner City Children. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 21, 1-14. • Taylor, Andrea Faber, Frances E. Kuo (2004). A Potential Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence from a National Study. American Journal of Public Health. 94, 1580 – 1586.

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